In training camp, Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback AJ McCarron wants to show his new teammates "I'm here to work," and he hopes his play will continue to be characterized by ball protection.

McCarron took part in the NFL Network's Rookie Confessional video series during the 17th annual NFL Rookie Symposium last week in Aurora, Ohio. The players responded to the prompts "proving yourself at training camp," "best part of new city," "goals for rookie season" and "can't wait to play against ..."

About his goals, McCarron said: "I just want to take care of the football like I've always done. One of the biggest stats I pride myself on is I've thrown 24 interceptions throughout my whole high school and college career. So I only threw 15 in college, and I pride myself a lot on that. I feel like we've got a great team and as long as we don't turn the ball over, we're in a great situation in Cincinnati to win."

A former St. Paul's prep star in Mobile, McCarron was drafted in the fifth round out of Alabama by the Bengals on May 10. Cincinnati has four quarterbacks on its preseason roster, with McCarron joining three-year starter Andy Dalton, veteran Jason Campbell of Auburn and second-year player Matt Scott. The Crimson Tide won two BCS national championships with McCarron at quarterback, and he finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a senior.